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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

My mom in law had chosen to come over to our place in Delhi all the way from Calcutta for about ten days. Contrary to popular ideas, the arrival of Ma in Law is not a terror for me at all. I just hand over the kitchen to her and live my life happily... enjoy the cup of tea accompanied by an unending supply of tasty and innovative snacks when I return from work, the suddenly multi-item dinner, the morning tea as refreshing as it can be and the very nutritous breakfast. The house would be clean, things would be in order...

This time, however, God chose to intervene. He knew I was looking forward to my days of freedom from housework. Some stupid accident had to take place in Kanpur on the 5th only, causing all trains, including the Rajdhani Express, to be cancelled. But would I take it sportingly? Neither would she. Back home she went, but made arrangements for booking another ticket for the 6th. Got me stuck on the railway booking site as well. I managed a tatkal reservation on the 8th, called to inform her, only to be told that my efforts have been a waste; her travel agent had got her confirmed tickets for the 6th itself. Dejected, I cancelled the reservations I had made minutes ago. Forget the financial loss I incurred.

Destiny rules. The train on the 6th got cancelled as well. As the news reached me, I felt dumbfounded...

But my lady is not the tigress of her home alone. Once she has decided to reach Delhi, reach she must. And my my, is she influential? She made arrangements to reach Agra... how were bookings made, I have no idea. All I know that she is coming. And somebody has to receive her in Agra and get her back to Delhi, bag and baggage. The drama continues...